If anyone reports a missing 35a, it was last seen 20 mins ago following an x20 out of Rainton Bridge NIS.
Rather than head down the A690 or down Dairy Lane, it continued through Fencehouses.
Goodness knows where it is going or if it is going to pick up the route somewhere else - possibly at The Beehive/Newbottle.

(29 Nov 2013, 3:40 pm)Liam wrote 'Venture' branding as applied to Optare Solo SR NL63 YBA - 641

Looks very smart, quite liking these recent re brands from GNE

Anyone know if any of the Wheyaye50's have been repainted or something as there has been at least 2 missing for the past few days, Wednesday it had on Renown 4844 and an ELC Loyne, Yesterday again had 4844 and SLF Dart 8289, and today 4844 and an ELC Loyne, Just Curious

(29 Nov 2013, 6:05 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote Anyone know if any of the Wheyaye50's have been repainted or something as there has been at least 2 missing for the past few days, Wednesday it had on Renown 4844 and an ELC Loyne, Yesterday again had 4844 and SLF Dart 8289, and today 4844 and an ELC Loyne, Just Curious

I don't think these will be repainted for a while yet.

(29 Nov 2013, 6:05 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote Anyone know if any of the Wheyaye50's have been repainted or something as there has been at least 2 missing for the past few days, Wednesday it had on Renown 4844 and an ELC Loyne, Yesterday again had 4844 and SLF Dart 8289, and today 4844 and an ELC Loyne, Just Curious

8289 is at Washington, so how can it be on the 50?

(29 Nov 2013, 6:14 pm)Tom wrote 8289 is at Washington, so how can it be on the 50?

8289 was only at Washington temporarily - it was a loan.

On VOSA today:

PB0002400/59 - GO NORTHERN LTD T/A GO NORTH EAST, 117 QUEEN STREET, GATESHEAD, NE8 2UA

Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Langley Park and Durham given service number 13/13a/14/814 effective from 18-Nov-2013. To amend Timetable.

The 5 today seen 3 broke down I waited 20 mins for this poxy bus at boldon asda to shields when it turned up the driver was going slow making me even late the buses are getting beyond and joke they need to be scrapped asap not using this service any more

From the GNE site..

Service 51 - Stand Change in Gateshead Interchange 5th January

Date: 29 Nov 2013

Please note that Service 51 will be relocated to Stand G in Gateshead Interchange from January 5th 2014.
This will give our customers the option of catching either service 51 or 58 to points served by both services in the Leam Lane, Felling Square and Deckham areas.

Also:

http://www.simplygo.com/news/go-north-ea...ts-scheme/

In the PDF: it says they plan to Invest in £11.2m in 2014/15, and 11.8m in 2015/2016, this is at a rate of 80 buses per year, this means GNE average age fleet will be at 8.7 years by end of 2013, with it dropping every year.

(29 Nov 2013, 7:13 pm)Michael wrote From the GNE site..

Service 51 - Stand Change in Gateshead Interchange 5th January

Date: 29 Nov 2013

Please note that Service 51 will be relocated to Stand G in Gateshead Interchange from January 5th 2014.
This will give our customers the option of catching either service 51 or 58 to points served by both services in the Leam Lane, Felling Square and Deckham areas.

No doubt because they no longer have to squeeze behind a Bendy Bus on the 58.

(29 Nov 2013, 1:06 pm)Chris wrote I agree standardisation does make sense, but would capacity not come into it? Being Low Floor, the President has a seating capacity of 65 compared to the 77 on the Olympians according to the GNE fleet list.

Plus, as it's a contract, I assume the price submitted by GNE would be based on an Olympian being the vehicle of choice. As in, the Olympian would have lower operating costs than the President, and is represented in the price?

This is a very good point. There must be a reason why Caris bought an Olympian for it rather than use a 70 seater coach....

(29 Nov 2013, 8:38 pm)GMitchelhill wrote No doubt because they no longer have to squeeze behind a Bendy Bus on the 58.

Does the 51 share with 21, 1 and X2 or am I getting mixed up?

(29 Nov 2013, 11:18 pm)gtomlinson wrote Does the 51 share with 21, 1 and X2 or am I getting mixed up?

The 52 shares Stand K with the 1, 21, X2 and X21 whilst the 51 stops at the next stand up, sharing with the X1.

(29 Nov 2013, 10:19 pm)tyresmoke wrote This is a very good point. There must be a reason why Caris bought an Olympian for it rather than use a 70 seater coach....

I didn't realise Caris had a set allocation for it - I've seen both the Olympian and (at least one) of their coaches parked on Sunderland Road (presumably for said contract) on multiple occasions..?

Hexham have Winlaton-based SPD 8220 on loan at present, most likely covering for 8293 which is VOR (shock!)
This is, no doubt, why 3812 has remained in service at Winlaton, albeit a scholar only allocation.

3964 is also at Hexham today, covering for an absent 3942.

(29 Nov 2013, 11:42 pm)Adam wrote The 52 shares Stand K with the 1, 21, X2 and X21 whilst the 51 stops at the next stand up, sharing with the X1.

Cheers Adam

Wonder when the 39 will be dressed in simplicity brand??? Much better buses but them destination boards as they were on previous drifter 60 are still jumping about!!! Still think the brand should be Doxford clipper if I'm honest

(30 Nov 2013, 10:47 am)Acky81 wrote Wonder when the 39 will be dressed in simplicity brand??? Much better buses but them destination boards as they were on previous drifter 60 are still jumping about!!! Still think the brand should be Doxford clipper if I'm honest

The final Versa to be repainted (8308) came out of the paintshop in purple yesterday. Expect the vinyls to be applied imminently.

"Lime" services 8/78 are omitting Green Terrace, Sunderland, due to heavy traffic, as per control request.

3942 is supposed to be going into a livery for Metro Radio, to be based at Gateshead, while 3964 is now at Hexham.

(30 Nov 2013, 12:02 pm)Dan wrote "Lime" services 8/78 are omitting Green Terrace, Sunderland, due to heavy traffic, as per control request.

The town was absolutely heaving this morning...was getting pissed off with little old ladies and kids trying to knock me over

Slightly related to GNE but have the council/PCSO traffic controls funded by the bus operators on Percy Street started yet?

Traffic in Newcastle makes Sunderland look deserted. It's getting worse by the day. Had the misfortune of Metrocentre on the X66 today (being green and leaving car) It was borderline hell . No wonder the likes of the 10 etc can't keep times with hitting traffic in Metrocentre and Newcastle

(30 Nov 2013, 3:45 pm)fozzovmurton wrote The town was absolutely heaving this morning...was getting pissed off with little old ladies and kids trying to knock me over

I remember a few years ago getting the X2 from Eldon Square bk to Sunderland, it took over 2 hours to get back, well over 40 minutes just to get to Gateshead, the place had been heaving with an EDL Demo in the City as well as a UAF counter demo...But Newcastle even when there is nothing in particular on is a nightmare...

When my old nana and grandfather were alive, god rest there souls, if they had to goto Newcastle for anything, the old fella would always make my nan drive or get the train as he hated driving through The Toon

The Team Valley must have been heaving as well. I saw 3 93s earlier within 5 minutes of each other

(30 Nov 2013, 5:39 pm)Adam wrote The Team Valley must have been heaving as well. I saw 3 93s earlier within 5 minutes of each other

Arg, on a 20 minute Saturday frequency?

I noted earlier that 4943 had been involved in an incident of some sort... I'm led to believe that this was a mere breakdown at the Boldon ASDA junction and led to quite a bit of chaos indeed - perhaps the police presence was a little too strong (given the nature of the problem), which led to the inevitable assumption that there had been an 'incident'.

Yeah we're getting to that time of year where it becomes impossible to try and run a bus service to time anywhere as the traffic just gets ridiculous. Not to mention loadings go through the roof which doesn't help with dwell times etc.

(30 Nov 2013, 5:50 pm)Dan wrote Arg, on a 20 minute Saturday frequency?

Yeah it looked ridiculous. The fist one was jam packed, second one was half full and the third was almost empty.

(30 Nov 2013, 5:50 pm)Dan wrote Arg, on a 20 minute Saturday frequency?

It's those lights at Bensham, as well as the Team Valley - it's getting worse by the day!

In other news, here's 3942 nearly finished in its new Metro Radio branding.

Photo by: Sean Blair
http://www.flickr.com/photos/77351420@N0...Xoc-hVyzz1

Just wanting to get a general view on the updated 'Venture' branding on the brand new SR. Would appeciate it if people could provide their general views in the poll attached, and include comments/suggestions in the thread